Restoration of the Saint Vincent de Paul Chapel at Saint Eustache Church

With nearly a million visitors each year, the Church of Saint-Eustache is one of the most iconic in Paris. Built in 1532, it has witnessed all the major events in France’s history. In order to preserve this heritage, a number of restoration works have had to be carried out, particularly within the Chapel of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, which is now open to the public.

‘Gradually, we are restoring this church to its former glory,’ says Father Pierre Vivarès, parish priest of Saint-Eustache. For 40 years now, the City of Paris, the parish and private donors have been working together to restore this church. Starting with the roof of the building, the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul Chapel was also on the list. Supported by the World Monuments Fund, the City of Paris and the parish, the restoration work, which began in October 2025, has now been completed. The chapel is now open to the public.

From the 17th to the 19th

Although at first glance the history of this chapel appears to begin in the 19th century, it actually dates back to the 17th. Following a fire in the church in 1844, Victor Baltard, the diocesan architect, launched a major restoration project. The decorations of the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul Chapel, which were then covered in paint, were thus revealed and restored by the painter Serrure.

Beneath this layer of paint, decorations depicting Saint Anne were discovered. Originally, this chapel was not dedicated to Saint Vincent de Paul, but to Saint Anne, hence the numerous scenes depicting her. To lend credibility to the chapel’s name, the artist Serrure chose to add a portrait of Saint Vincent de Paul, explains Véronique Milande, chief heritage curator and head of the conservation of religious and secular artworks for the City of Paris. According to her, the painter responsible for the earliest depictions of Saint Anne is as yet unknown. Nevertheless, she states that the Saint Vincent de Paul Chapel had been taken on lease by the Duke of Épernon, a common practice among the great families of the time.

A sustained restoration

Drawing on preliminary research and archives held by the City of Paris, the team of 15 conservators worked to breathe new life into this chapel. This technical restoration was made possible thanks to the World Monuments Fund, an NGO dedicated to the protection of heritage around the world, and its private patron, Anthony Thompson.

Working in partnership with the City of Paris since 2021, the City has also been involved in the restoration work. “The City of Paris owns the Church of Saint-Eustache under the 1905 law on the separation of Church and State… As the owner, it has a duty to preserve and protect the heritage within it,” explains Paul Percetti, head of sponsorship within the City of Paris’s cultural Affairs department.

Inaugurated on 25 June, the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul Chapel reflects a commitment to preserving our heritage. It is now open to the public.

To find out more, check out our special report on our digital platform, Museum TV.